Course Catalogue

PS 352 Population and Development

 

Programme: B.A. Environmental Studies

Credit value: 12

Level: Year 3, Semester 5

General objectives

This module aims at providing students with a theoretical background about demographic issues in relation to development. Students will become aware of how the development process in developing countries is affected and in turn affected population structure, population growth and the environment, how current and future problems result from these interactions can be approached and solved.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, students will have an in depth understanding of the following issues:

  • the economic as well as social background of development and the development process;
  • the demographics of the world as well as Bhutan;
  • the history of demographic and economic theories;
  • the limits to development;
  • the inclusion of the environment and human development in economic development;
  • social development theories;
  • demographic transition;
  • role and status of women;
  • links between population, development and natural resources;
  • qualitative and quantitative aspects of human resources;
  • population planning and control.

 

Approach to learning and teaching

The course will consist of 15 teaching weeks, one self-study week and two examination weeks. Each week will consist of:

  • lectures during which the theoretical background will be discussed;
  • guest lectures, presentations and group discussions and a practical group exercise involving data collected during PHCB 2005;
  • self-study of the theory available, collecting information, and preparing papers and presentations.

Assessment

  • End of semester examination              60%
  • Assignments                                        25%
  • Presentation                                         15%

Prerequisite: None

. Course content

  • concepts and definitions of population and development in economics and sociology; present demographic and development picture of the world; nature of the population problems of the world; need to study population in the context of development;
  • concept and definition of gender, sex and gender stereotypes concept and definition of gender equity, equality and empowerment;  
  • earlier attempts to relate population to resources in production; pre-Malthusian writers and Malthusian theory; contribution of other classical economists; neo – Malthusian approach; the Marxist viewpoint; optimum population density; theory of demographic transition and its limitations;
  • concepts and indicators of development; economic, social, demographic and cultural aspects of development and modernization;
  • paradigm shift in concept and definition of development  from  income consumption to autonomy and dignity: Head Count Ratio, Human Development Index, Human Vulnerability Index, Poverty Gap Ratio, Gender Empowerment Index, Gender Development Index
  • theories of development; role of capital accumulation in an economy characterized by unlimited supplies of labour;  Lewis model;  Leibenstein’s critical minimum effort;
  • development, modernization and fertility transition - Becker’s approach Easterlin’s synthetic framework;
  • role and status of women;  socio - economic development; population changes; modernization, development, mortality transition and regional variations in migration;
  • inter–relationship between population and development; a controversy – different approaches;
  • population and development, natural resources and environment; demand for and supply of renewable and non–renewable resources; role of population and technology; ecological balance of population and resources;
  • population and capital resources; demographic, social, cultural and economic factors in influencing savings, investment and technological change
  • population and human resources (quantitative aspects); demographic, social, economic and cultural factors influencing demand for and supply of labour, work participation, growth structure of employment as related to development, population growth and unemployment problem;
  • population and human resources (qualitative aspects); demographic, social, cultural and economic determinants of productivity; investment in human capital – population growth and nutrition; population growth and health; population growth and housing; population growth and education;
  • need to view population planning as an integrated part of overall development planning; concepts and objectives of planning; various approaches to planning; choice of a suitable strategy – conflicting considerations; demographic considerations in national development planning and for different sectors e.g. problems and policies adopted, progress made and future requirements (a) food production and rural development, (b) housing, (c) education, (d) employment and manpower planning, (e) health (f) urban development , and (g) poverty eradication.
  • population planning and carrying capacity; population growth and resource ratio.
  • international instruments on population, gender and development: Rio, WSSD, ICPD, Beijing, CEDAW, MDGs
  • national instruments on population, gender and development(idea of GNP)

Reading list

  1. Andrew et.al, 1984, Population Growth and Economic Development: Lessons from Selected Asian Countries, UNFPA Policy Development Studies No.10.
  2. Asian Development Bank (ADB), 2003, Poverty Statistics-Country Knowledge-Nepal (http://ww.adb.org/Statistics/Poverty/NEP.asp).
  3. Bernstein, Stan, 2002, "Population and Poverty: Some Perspectives on Asia and the Pacific", Asia-Pacific Population Journal, Vol. 17, No. 4: 31-48.
  4. Coale, A.J. (ed), 1976. Economic Factors in Population Growth, London: Mac Millan Co. of India Ltd.
  5. Debavalya, Nibhon, 1990, Population and Development Planning (Bangkok: ESCAP), 1-30 Mason.
  6. Harrin, Alejandro N., 1983, Population and Development: Introductory Perspectives, Vol. 1 (Manila: Manila National Economic and Development Authority).
  7. Herrin Alejandro N., 1988, "Analytical Perspectives for Population and Development Research and Planning", Population and Development Framework for Research and Planning, Asian Population Studies Series, No.82 (Bangkok: ESCAP).
  8. Mason, Andrew et.al, (2003 /2004), Population Growth and Economic Development: Lessons from Selected Asian Countries, UNFPA Policy Development Studies No.10. (google, amazon .com)
  9. Simon, Julian 1977. The Economics of Population Growth, Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  10. Standing, Guy, 1978. Labor Force Participation and Development, Geneva: International Labor Office, Geneva.
  11. Todaro, Michael P, 1981. Economic Development in the Third World, New York: Longman.
  12. UN, 1974. The Determinants and Consequences of Population Trends, ST/SOA/ SER/50. New York: UN
  13. UNDP, 1991.  Human Development Report 1991, New York: Oxford University Press
  14. Word Development Report 1984, New York: Oxford University Press

 

Additional reading

  1. Bhasin, Kamla (1997), What is a Girl? What is a Boy? Jagori, New Delhi
  2. Bhasin, Kamla (2000), Understanding Gender, Kali Primaries, New Delhi
  3. Crawford, M and Rhoda Unger (1992) (2000), Women and Gender: A Feminist Psychology (Third Edition) Mc Graw Hill. New York
  4. Dan Esty (         ). Sustainability Index’, World Economic Forum.
  5. Oucho, John O., 2002, "The Relationship Between Migration and Poverty in Southern Africa", Presented at SAMP/LHR/HSRC Workshop on Regional Integration, Poverty and South Africa's Proposed Migration Policy, Pretoria, 23 April 2002.
  6. Skeldon, Ronald, 1997, "Rural-to-Urban Migration and Its Implications for Poverty Alleviation", Asia-Pacific Population Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 3-16.
  7. Skeldon, Ronald, 2002, "Migration and Poverty", Asia-Pacific Population Journal, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 67-82.
  8. United Nations, 1995, Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September, 1994, sales No. E.95, XIII.18
  9. United Nations 1996, Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995, Sales No. E.96.IV.13.
  10. United Nations, 2001, World Population Monitoring 2000, Population, Gender and Development (New York: United Nations)
  11. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2000, World Population Monitoring 2000, Population, Gender and Development (New York: United Nations).
  12. World Bank, 2003, World Development Report 2003 (New York: Oxford University Press).

 
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